Cleveland Browns

Report: Cleveland Browns moving on from Josh Gordon

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Cleveland Browns are reportedly ready to move on from troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon, which may be best for everyone involved.

It took less than 24 hours, but the Cleveland Browns are reportedly ready to close the book on troubled but talented wide receiver Josh Gordon.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, citing an unnamed source, the Browns plan to “part ways” with Gordon after Thursday’s announcement that Gordon was entering an in-patient rehab facility.

Graziano did not provide a timetable for when the Browns will move on, but since Gordon remains suspended by the NFL and is not taking up a roster spot or collecting a paycheck, there may not be any sense of urgency on the part of the Browns.

But head coach Hue Jackson made it clear on Friday that, while a final decision may not have been made, he is focused on the players who are with the team, not those who are not.

“I just think for me, for our team and for everybody involved, my goal is to make sure that we take care of the players that are here and the players that are practicing and working,” Jackson said. “I care about everybody. I think that is the seat I sit in, but at the same time, he is not here. That is why we wished him well and want the best for him.

“I think the most important thing I can do is make sure that our football team that are here, the guys that are practicing, the guys that are going to play, the guys that are in the meeting room and working hard to get ready for a game is that our focus and our attention to detail is right. That is my main concern.

“I think what we need to do is just close that chapter right now. He is doing what he needs to do. We need to do what we need to do, which is continue to move forward.”

It has been clear since last spring’s NFL Draft – when the Browns selected four wide receivers out of their 14 picks – that the team wasn’t counting on Gordon’s return. If he came back and performed it would be great; if not, well, it is hard to miss what you never really had.

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While there were fans who held onto the believe that Gordon would come back on Oct. 9 and be the same player he was in 2013, when he led the NFL in receiving yardage, that was always nothing more than a pleasant fiction.

Even with Corey Coleman out for a few more weeks with a broken hand, the Browns are covered at the position with Terrelle Pryor and Andrew Hawkins, and can continue to give playing time to rookies Rashard Higgins, Ricardo Louis and Jordan Payton.

There has been some talk over the past day that the latest chapter in the Gordon saga will be a distraction for a Browns team still looking for its first win. But if this team has shown anything in the opening weeks of the season, it is a resilient group.

“I think the guys have worked hard that way as far as being accountable to each other, doing the right thing. Obviously, we had a slip up this past week. That is unfortunate and that is not something that we want to have happen,” Jackson said. “We have dealt with that as an organization and as a team. We will move forward. Hopefully, that is a lesson learned for everybody else on how we conduct our business. We will continue to do so.

“Our guys have done a good job. That is all I can say thus far. We don’t want any problems at the end of the day, but I think in this building, in these meeting rooms and on that practice field, these guys have done a good job in giving me everything they have.”

It would have been a nice fairy tale ending if Gordon had been able to return from his latest suspension next week and add a boost to the offense. Sadly, that appears to no longer be an option.

If the Browns are ready to move on from Gordon it is because he made it an easy decision for team officials.

It may be the best thing for everyone involved.

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